NAPCO reached an agreement with both GMC and Chevrolet to supply them with the Powr-Pak conversion kits, and GMC began to produce 4x4 trucks on the factory assembly line (using NAPCO components) starting in 1956, with Chevrolet following suite in 1957. By the end of 1957 both GMC and Chevrolet trucks could be ordered from the factory with the NAPCO Powr-Pak conversion. The first 'All GM' factory 4x4's were introduced in 1960 when both Chevrolet and GMC went to a totally new chassis. NAPCO and its Powr-Pak conversion were left out of the equation due to the introduction of GM's completely redesigned truck line featuring independent front suspension on the two wheel drive trucks and a 4-wheel drive specific chassis on the 4-wheel drive trucks.

thirdstreettito
I had not seen that video but I had heard about it. I saw that truck at last summers "Brother's" truck show south of Los Angeles. The truck was over the top in detail. Incredible work on the body and suspension as well. The guy appearantly likes to build trucks and then goes out and drives the wheels off of them (snaping axles is not a big deal to him??) he uses the bigger 3/4 ton axles so that he can get the "posi" unit inside it.

57napco
If that was your truck in the Pikes Peak video, I am way jealous. I was going to install late model running gear in my 56 until I saw that video.... then I had to watch it about a dozen times. I have been to the top of Pikes Peak (the easy way) and that was pretty cool the way they did it back then... your truck is/was a cool piece of history.
thanks

Here is a new truck that I found yesterday. It is a 1956 gmc 150. It is a factory napco conversion, the first year you could get an assembly line 4wd from GM. It is a deluxe cab with chrome bumpers and hubcaps. I think it would have been an expensive truck when it was new. It even has 19.5 rims, the only ones I have ever seen. What do you all think?

I know it is ugly, and it needs alot more than air in the tires. I am going to start on it very quickly. I am going to have the cab stripped and edp coated. I have already found some excellent doors off of an old gmc fire truck. I have also found a bed for it. I am going to have the grille and bumper and all chrome pieces stripped and rechromed.

SpecialK mentioned the hubcaps, I don't know how they survived on the truck. I figure that chrome 3/4 ton hubcaps would be hard to find. Should I have these rechromed or does anyone have some they don't need?

Is there any way to tell if this truck had a bed or was just a cab and chassis from the factory? Either way it is getting a proper truck bed.

I can`t knock that truck.You are right,it was a fine example (still is) rom the factory.I fliped to find the highly optioned`72 K/20s I had.This is the vintage equivelent...only way cooooler.I commented on the caps because it speaks for it`s care while in service.It may have sat and declined some,it`s very restorable.About the bed...not sure to be honest.I`d imagine it was a pickup.That`s just me.I kinda doubt it would be a fancy truck as a cab`n`chassis.I`ve been wrong before.I see this truck as the same one shown in that video.

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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed"GMC

Heres my '56 3/4ton. It was a county/township plow truck in Michigan's U.P. The 235 runs like a champ still. Currently in hibernation in northern Minnesota, still gets used time to time around the cabin in summer. Had 15" 8 lug tube type split rims when I bought it. I'm thinking the Napco setup was swapped from an older truck into this one since the front axle pumpkin is on the drivers side and not the passenger side. Maybe the county or township saved a few bucks buying a 2wd and had the part swapped over from their old truck.

Here is a NAPCO my dad restored back in the early 80's. He had alot of machine work done to the transfer case and axles to run non-caged bearings. The picture on the ball field is Odgen Utah in 1983, it was the Chevy/GMC truck nationals. We drove from California and back to the show all the way. Other pictures are at Magic Mountain in Valencia California, 1984. The one with the stand and the chopped car next to it was in Oakhurst California in 1985. The truck was all original appearing. Except under the hood was a 327 tunnel ram with two 465cfm Holleys, m-22 4-speed transmission (car) with the stock transfer case and axles with 3.90 gears. It had 33" tires on it then. It got traded off, I heard it went to Iowa somewhere........anyone seen it?

Thanks. The Chevy Madness Meets were pretty cool at Magic Mountain. One side of the parking lot would be trucks, and the other side would be cars. The plates were California with them being personalized, my last name. My dad traded for a 70 Chevelle drop top, and a 88 incher Harley back then. I heard the truck may have went to Iowa, the guys name was Dan Adams, should not be hard to find with that last name? lol The tunnel ram came off and wound up on my 64 Nova, the four speed came out, and a my dad built a TH400 for it. My dad also scribed his name inside the diffrential covers. It was actually a GMC with a Chevy Gate and front clip, so it had the GMC dash. It would be nice to find.....